*ACS is an umbrella term used when a patient seeks care at an ER for symptoms of acute angina or myocardial infarction not yet diagnosed. treatment includes rapid assessment to determine the diagnosis and treatment of symptoms to possible minimize heart damage

aneurysm

ballooning of a weakened portion of an arterial wall

angina pectoris

chest pain

which may radiate to the left arm and jaw

occurs when there is an insufficient supply of blood to the heart muscle

arrhythmia

*watch for correct spelling

any disturbance or abnormality in the heart's normal rhythmic pattern

atrial fibrillation (AFib)

a cardiac arrhythmia characterized by chaotic, rapid electrical impulses in the atria

the atria quiver instead of contracting, causing irregular ventricular response and the ejection of a reduced amount of blood

the blood that remains in the atria becomes static, increasing the risk of clot formation which may lead to a stroke

thallium, a radioactive isotope, is injected into the body intravenously

a radiation detector is placed over the heart and images are recorded

thallium is taken up by the normal myocardial cells, but not in ischemia (deficiency of blood flow) or infarction (An area of tissue necrosis caused by impairment of arterial or venous blood supply due to mechanical factors (emboli, thrombi) or to blood pressure alterations)

these areas are identified as "cold" spots on the images produced

thallium testing can be performed when the patient is at rest or it can be part of a stress test

transesophageal echocardiogram (TEE)

an ultrasound test that examines cardiac function and structure by using an ultrasound probe placed in the esophagus, which provides views of the heart structures

cardiac catheterization

also called coronary angiography

an examination to determine the condition of the heart and surrounding blood vessels

a catheter is passed into the heart through a blood vessel and is used to record pressures and inject a contrast medium

enbline the visualization of the coronary arteries, great vessels, and the heart chambers

used most frequently by evaluate chest pain and coronary artery disease

impedance plethysmography (IPG)

measures venous flow of the extremities with a plethysmograph to detect clots by measuring changes in blood volume and resistance (impedance) in the vein

used to detect deep vein thrombosis

blood pressure (BP)

pressure exerted by the blood against the blood vessel walls

blood pressure measurement written as systolic [contraction of the heart, especially of the ventricles]pressure (120)

and diastolic [Normal post-systolic dilation of the heart cavities, during which they fill with blood; diastole of the atria precedes that of the ventricles; diastole of either chamber alternates rhythmically with systole or contraction of that chamber] pressure (80)

is commonly recorded as 120/80

pulse

the rhythmic expansion of an artery that can be felt with a finger

the pulse is most commonly felt over the radial artery

however the pulsations can be felt over a number of sites, including the femoral and carotid arteries

sphygmomanometer

*will be a spelling word

device used for measuring blood pressure

coagulation time

blood test to determine the time it takes for blood to form a clot

complete blood count (CBC)
and
differential count (Diff)

basic blood screening that measures hemoglobin

hematocrit

RBC number and morphology (size and shape)

WBC count

and WBC differential (types of white blood cells)

platelet count

the test is automated, thus done easily and rapidly,

and provides a tremendous amount of information about the blood

hematocrit (HCT)

a blood test to measure the volume of red blood cells

it is used in the diagnosis and evaluation of anemic patients

hemoglobin (Hgb)

blood test used to determine the concentration of oxygen-carrying components (hemoglobin) in red blood cells

prothrombin time (PT)

blood test used to determine certain coagulation activity defects

and to monitor anticoagulation therapy for patients taking Coumadin, an oral anticoagulant medication

activated partial thromboplastin time (PTT) is used to monitor anticoagulation therapy for patients taking heparin, an intravenous anticoagulant medication)

atri/o/ventricul/ar

pertaining to the atrium and ventricle

cardi/ac

pertaining to the heart

cardi/o/genic

originating in the heart

cardi/o/logist

physician who studies and treats diseases of the heart

cardi.o.logy

study of the heart

a branch of medicine that deals with diseases of the heart and blood vessels

hypo/therm/ia

condition of (body) temperature that is below (normal)

sometimes induced for various surgical procedures, such as bypass surgery